The speaker of Ukraine`s parliament flew to Washington on Tuesday to meet with the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for discussions on a $16.5 billion loan that the country hopes to receive, RIA Novosti reported. [more]

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine states that Russia refuses to carry out a session of the sub-commission for issues of the RF Black Sea Fleet operation at the Ukrainian-Russian Inter-Government Commission.
[more]

Ukraine has formally broached the possibility of joining an EU battle group, a suggestion that would, if approved, make Ukraine only the third non-EU country – after Norway and Turkey – to be incorporated into the military system, European Voice reported. [more]

The government, which must also deal with a political crisis, is struggling to support the hryvna currency in the face of the world financial meltdown, as investor money flees emerging markets and orders fall for the country’s chief export commodity, steel. [more]

Ukraine has breached no international laws when supplying the weapons to Georgia, said representatives of Ukrainian president`s secretariat, Russian daily Kommersant reported.
[more]

Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine during the period of the world financial crisis would be a “crime against the state,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told a briefing after the meeting with leaders of parliamentary factions on Wednesday. [more]

Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko must call a nationwide referendum if it is initiated in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution and laws. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine passed such a decision on October 15 and promulgated it on Tuesday, October 21. [more]

Aid for Ukraine’s staggering economy may be endangered by the country’s continuing political instability. Like Iceland and Hungary, Ukraine is seeking aid from the International Monetary Fund to counter the global financial crisis. But Ukraine, its economy reeling from falling steel prices, is also struggling with political problems. [more]

The 8th Conference of European Youth Ministers, “The future of the Council of Europe youth policy: AGENDA 2020″ opened today in Kyiv, Ukraine, according to CE press release, forwarded to UNIAN.
Over the course of the two-day conference, high-level policy makers from 49 signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention will be discussing European youth policy for the next decade. [more]

President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine has dissolved parliament weeks after the collapse of the country’s ruling pro-Western coalition. Mr Yushchenko announced Ukraine’s third general election in less than three years in a pre-recorded speech on TV. The polls will be held on 7 December. [more]